Silks At Home

KuriKat started this discussion · 10/17/2012

I'm reasonably sure I've seen a video by someone on here who had an aerial silks set up at home, unless I'm imagining things. I've looked around at some of the sites selling the fabric and equipment but I couldn't find anything about how one goes about installing it or what the requirements are. I don't have much height, but it would be good to practise tricks, etc at home so I can be quicker and more confident with them in the gym and up high. Do any of the aerialists have any tips or places I should look to see if I can set up a home silks apparatus? (Ideally without destroying my ceiling? :P ) Thanks in advance.

15 replies

divapolegoddess · 10/17/2012
Send Sam I Am a message. She has silks in her home.
byrdgrrl · 10/17/2012
http://suspendulum.com/home.htm This is what I use. Admittedly it is not inside my house, but I have about 15 feet to work with. :)
jleigh · 10/17/2012
I too have the supendulum. Its about 21' high in a tripod configuration. I love it!
byrdgrrl · 10/17/2012
Yeah, my driveway isn't big enough. I would love to have all 20 feet.
KuriKat · 10/17/2012
Yeah, those do look pretty neat. I used to have a backyard, but decided to downsize to a condo to be more centrally located. I guess I'm discovering the first downside to condominium life: no room for an outdoor apparatus. Oh well, in Alberta such things would be a summertime only option anyway. :-)
pr1nc3ss · 10/18/2012
I have them inside my home and you should have them installed by a certified rigger or engineer. I used a cert rigger for mine
pr1nc3ss · 10/18/2012
I have them inside my home and you should have them installed by a certified rigger or engineer. I used a cert rigger for mine
Elektra Vallens · 10/18/2012
I just wrote a really long blog about circus arts yesterday. You might find some answers to your questions in there. You can find it here: https://www.studioveena.com/blogs/view/Circus_Arts_FAQ_20121016113926
joscelynsmom · 10/18/2012
I have silks and I would highly recommend hiring a rigger. You can usually find a local one for a reasonable price. Do Not try to rig the mount point yourself. Special calculations need to be made because it's not just something you are 'sitting' on. There will be a lot of bouncing and jolts to your support system and you need to know it will hold. Last thing you want is to come crashing out of the ceiling. This site sells the items you need aside from the ceiling mount to actually 'rig' your silk and they have instructional videos on how to set it up (this part you can do yourself): http://aerialessentials.com/videos.htm This is where I personally got my 'silk' from (make sure you get the 70 denier poly interlock knit): http://www.efabricsupplier.com/category_s/51.htm They have material on the first site too but I didn't need it as long and I didn't want to pay that much so I went with the second site. But if you need more than 10-12feet use the first link. :)
jkpolegirl · 10/19/2012
I have silks at home that I put together and up with the help of my boyfriend...... I would also recommend getting a professional rigger.. I'm not very good at taking my own advice.. haha I have a friend that has an aerial hammock for more yoga type things and she was able to just use eye hooks in the beams of the ceiling I actually cut a whole in the ceiling to make sure I new what we were dealing with.. we reinforced the beams and I don't do a whole lot on it.. mainly conditioning moves There's a website I believe its called simplycircus... sorrry I can't add the link.... they explain everything you need and the ratings for each piece... if you decide to put all the peices together yourself... I found that cheaper than buying a whole fabric and rigging set
PippiParnasse · 10/28/2012
You need to hire someone. There's a reason this info isn't online. Installing silks without knowing what you're doing is one of the most dangerous things you can do in an already death-defying art. An engineer will do in a pinch (more of us know engineers who will help us out) but an actual rigger is what you want.
Kobajo84 · 10/28/2012
You might have seen my video I posted a year ago when I had mine rigged in my home. My husband is an engineer and he built a customized rigging that goes through the ceiling and into our attic. I also have a certified rigger as a consultant and I will recommend him to my friends who are rigging their homes. There is literature out there on the Internet of how to rig, however I agree with everyone else and having a professional do this is the safest and most responsible route. Good luck!
OzarkSiren · 10/28/2012
Go to AerialEmpowerment.com, she sells the Silks outside Apparatus. It is for outside and can do a hammock and or complete Silks. I am saving for this one. Hope McCurdy is very helpful who owns the site. She is a Veener also. I have a single point hammock. I use the school playground, the park and also have a large Eyehook in my ceiling. You must have knowledge of weight limits and common sense to do this. I would have had to fly a professional rigger into my area to help with set up. The guy I date is an Engineer and he had some ideas but frankly not much more than the hardware store. Simple Cirus and other sites have some info. If you live where you have a Professional Rigger available that is great !! Let us know what you decide.
CD Hussey fka Jivete · 10/29/2012
If you went with an engineer, you'd want a structural. I'm a civil engineer, and while I understand the basics, I don't know that I'd be comfortable installing my own rigging for silks if I planned on doing any kind of drop. Basic hammock or silks wouldn't bother me so much. I wouldn't put my stamp on it though.
KuriKat · 10/29/2012
Thanks for all the replies. I definitely don't have the height for drops or anything like that - it would just be to practise wraps and poses. I'm not sure it will warrant a professional, but luckily I do know a few people with that coveted iron ring for some engineering advice. ;-) Lots to think about anyway.